Product Development and Marketing Workshops

One cannot imagine how things will turn out when one set out to do something new, especially in a foreign environment.  In teaching, Lydia’s usual class size in Family Studies was under 20, so when thinking about conducting hands on workshops, 25 was the suggested limit for participants.  We did 10 full day workshops with 43 people attending each day, including the day of the typhoon like weather when all ferries were cancelled!



43 Participants showed up first day.....how do we handle this?
 

An excellent room is found.  Chairs and tables are brought in by participants each day.

 Each morning the participants carried 50 stacking chairs and 8 tables from a storage shed to the large empty room that served us well for our workshops.   We had a borrowed white tarp which served as a screen for the projector that Allan carries as hand luggage from Canada. 


Tables set up each morning, returned to storage shed each evening.
 

Canvas for a screen. Projector from home.  We are all set!

The young mothers participating cared for their little ones as we conducted the workshops. That brought the numbers to well over 50!    These mothers and their families live on $1.25 Canadian/day social assistance.   

Allan brought his marketing expertise, incorporating many pictures of the local market to bring marketing principles to practical reality for TAWLA (Tablas Womens' Livelihood Association) participants.  Below are a few examples of their handcrafted work needing markets!

 



 

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How could we work with such a large number of people?  The morning sessions were first presentations, then group work.  For the group work, they formed eight groups, each having a card table sized table to work around.  As you will see in the slide show, they grouped around those tables to prepare their marketing presentations and do their practical.

 

Lydia had brought a limited number of jewelry kits (40) she had made up from beads that were donated from the Colchester Community workshop.  Coupled with Walmart style jewelry kits, these worked well for the participants to learn basic necklace and earring making.   Fishing line and fasteners would be more appropriate another time, using native seeds and shells with the exception being earring making.    Participants were very interested in a number of samples, giving them ideas for how to use the native cowrie shells and seeds.   This island, especially this area, has the best anywhere for collecting shells that wash ashore from the rich coral reefs that surround the island.

 

 

Lydia decided to take on a venture that she was not sure would work!  A few of the women were producing limited product, most having no market or if there was a market, people here have very little money to pay for anything.   Lydia was surprised to be able to buy fabric paint and tshirts at the local hardware store (one half hour away).    In Bamenda, Cameroon, Africa  we had a sign made for the school project.  It was there we saw how one could cut a stencil from ordinary paper and effectively use it.  So, armed with 20 utility knives and some printouts, we began to experiment in groups cutting letter stencils.  Day three, we attempted our first stenciling on tshirts.  Results were good.  The fabric pen sets brought from Canada helped make the lettering more legible.  One of the groups, in their evaluation, said that it took a lot of courage to take a brand new tshirt and put paint on it.  Allan noted that participants were reluctant to write on paper because paper is precious.  In Allan’s marketing activities, they used markers and Bristol board. 

 

Early on, we were able to buy heavy plastic portfolio bags, one for each participant.  Inside, they had a pen, small notebook, a good sized board to work on (good when you don’t have a table to work on or if the table you have is ridged bamboo)  and a ruler.  Each day they added to their own stencil collection. 

What an interesting progression to watch.  Participant showed real ingenuity in using the stencils and the basic colors.  One young mother had access to a computer and printer and did great lettering for her group.  That group totally surprised us, arriving for the closing dressed in four stunning turtle tshirts they had made  on their day off! 

All the things Lydia worried about had a solution.  The participants are very used to making do with what they have.  The painted  tshirts dried quickest laid out on the top of the hedge with  Bristol board underneath.  The drying tshirts were stored in the nearby Catholic church overnight.  An iron was purchased to set the paint.  They often ironed on a towel on the floor!  Nothing seemed to be a problem for them including one day when we arrived we found  a big wedding happening in the room where we usually had our workshop.  We were adequately accommodated in the day care center, fortunately free that morning.  Moving was never a problem with so many willing hands.     

As we moved through the workshops, Allan’s marketing lessons took on a very practical application.  There were over 60 tshirts hand painted.  So, a marketing plan is needed.  Each participant was to see if they could sell their tshirt.  So a price needed to be set.  A top rate person named Tess was brought to our workshops by Cecila.  Tess is a first class business person and very skilled in all aspects of business.  She showed the participants how to use a formula to determine price.   At a cost of 110 pecos per tshirt, allowing for other inputs, labor based on hand painting 7 tshirts a day (now that is quite a day!) etc, they determined that the cost was 247 pesos so the tshirts could sell for 250 for the domestic market and 400 for the wider market.  That is $6.00-$10 Canadian, yet these women who live (entire household, some with 5-7 children, elderly parents and others) on 1500 pesos social assistance a month (1.25 Canadian a day), this sounds good.   And better yet, a way to be creative and productive besides making babies. 

OK, the reality of selling.   To relate one person’s story.  Next door to the place we are staying lives a participant.  Her name is Candy.  We visited her week one.  He husband of 25 plus years was born in Holland and is in a wheel chair.   In the household live children, sisters and brothers and an elderly mother.  Candy seized the opportunity to ‘get out of the house’ and immediately moved forward with the project idea.  She brought a painted turtle tshirt to the villa and sold it to Michaela.  Michaela began asking questions about designing a tshirt for her staff, red in color with a sunset picture and Sunset Beach  Binucot Cove written on it.  So Candy went to Odiongon by motorbike taxi, bought red tshirts and her own paint and set to work.  Candy’s son has a computer and became very interested in helping with design and new painting techniques.  Candy also contacted her daughter in Manila to buy fabric pens for lettering for them.  Candy made two sample tshirts, came to show them to the staff and Michaela, went home to appear again in two days time with two more sample tshirts.  Like Allan says, when you see the change in her life, the light in her face, you know you have helped one.  

http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/product-development-and-marketing-with-low-income-women

Ferrol, Philippines

If one were to describe Heaven on Earth, this idyllic scene has to be tops.  This small island, set aside from the rest of the world, is truly unique.  We are located just outside Ferrol, about one hour south of San Andres where we were a year ago. 

View from inside the Villa
 

Our Villa!
 



Beyond luck, Chris Beck arranged for us to stay at Michaela’s Villas by the Sea.  Willy, originally from Germany  and Machela (born in the Philippines)  have built and are continuing to build a place to dream about.  We are in one of two villa that Willy, an engineer by training designed.  Shaped as an octagon with a thatched roof, three large electronically controlled doors, screened windows at chin height assuring privacy, solar heated hot water, the unit gives us a great place to work and sleep well!  They have a great staff who are busy tending to the lovely grounds and  building two new additions.  Meals are freshly prepared.  Unlike last year when we looked the live chickens from a distance, we have had lovely, fresh chicken, fresh fish, German sausages with good mustard and sauerkraut, good bread, freshly made mango shakes each morning, great vegetables stir fried, lots of good bananas.    Real luxury!

 

 

 

Cecile, a retired Social Worker with family roots in Tablas, has helped women in this area organize to form the Tablas Womans Livelihood Association (TAWLA).  Cecile describes them as  mothers of Cash Assistance Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who receive Php 1,500.00 monthly for the whole family composed usually of 7 to 10 members (a little over a dollar a day Canadian).  Initially there were going to be 35 taking our 10 days of workshops but as the numbers increased, their small Barangay hall was inadequate.  The Mayor of Farrol arranged for a meeting room to accommodate us but the first seminar day, the room was not available.  We had our first morning in the stadium, a open air basketball court with concrete bleachers.  By noon, we insisted that we needed a room!   They soon found a temporary spot, the day care facility for the afternoon barely holding all  40 of us!

 We are in the Philippines with one CESO assignment, working together with TABLAS WOMEN LIVELIHOOD ASSOCIATION (TAWLA) training on Marketing and Product Development, Allan doing the Marketing and Lydia the product development. 

The second workshop day we had our meeting room,  a very large, bare room.  The day begins with the women carrying the tables and chairs from a storage building to the seminar room.  We have our own computers, projector, voltage regulator, surge protector but no screen.  Electricity this year so far has been much more reliable than last year. 

The first seminar day in the afternoon we used a bed sheet to try and project an image from our digital projector.  Day two, Willy gave us a freshly scrubbed white canvas that is working well.  Fifty people.  Oh my goodness but they don’t seem to mind.  They were on the edge of their seats for Allan’s morning presentations, enjoying all the local illustrations from the markets.  They enjoyed Allan’s  reading in Talago, their local language from several ads! 

Lydia really had to think hard and is still thinking of skills that might be of help for the women.  She is working on hand painted tshirts of Tablas Island as the first activity (designing  stencils).  We were amazed at  the hardware store in Odiongan  had fabric paint, tshirts, fabric, brushes, stencil making material by the yard.  What an amazing experience.  When you enter the hardware store, you make your way through the narrow passage way lined with just everything piled, supplies hanging from the ceiling, organized shelves filled to the top but that is only the outside.  Willy calls it the cave in back.  These aisles  are floor to ceiling with organized supplies.  It is very dark.  We could barely decipher the colors of fabric paint available.  So for $122 Canadian, Lydia bought 40 tshirts, five jars of fabric paint, stencilling film, etc.  We will see how it goes.  Nothing to lose.  The organization could really strengthen if they were able to establish a money making business.

Our first Sunday, before breakfast, we were invited to go to the market in Odiongan with Willy.  Willy said it would take 1 ½ hours.  Off we went.  The Sunday market is special.  This is the day when farmers spread their fresh produce out on the ground, there is more fresh meat and fish available.  Willy took their cooler, supplemented their ice with block ice and bought fresh chicken, pork and beef, things we only dreamed of last year.   We took pictures of the hand woven hammocks, colorful baskets, mats, lots of local color.

Willy gets a call from Chris Beck.  Where are the Sorflatens?  He was inviting us for a special Sunday outing.  Indeed, we live in two worlds.   So, we transfer to Chris’ Lexus and were quickly wisked to Chris’ resort where we were treated to the best pizza (Lydia’s without cheese was delicious too!).   Our friends, two couples who are building homes here, arrived for our luxury trip to Flavios, an Italian Resort on a nearby island.  Chris warned us not to eat too much pizza.  They had a full course Italian meal ready for us (each a separate course)-pesto on Italian bread fingers, pasta with tomato sauce, (then Chris said, the main course is coming)-yes, three big homemade meatballs followed by homemade ice cream (lemon, mango flavors). 

Children selling jewelry made of shells were waiting at the gate.  When Lydia  approached them to buy, they were very shy.  Lydia  chose three necklaces and finally the little boy (probably age 9) managed to say 150 pecos. 

We ended the weekend by visiting the building site William and Eudora have chosen.  A very ambitious project.  Located on the top of a cliff overlooking the sea, the view is great.  They plan to bring soil in to cover the irregular coral rocks and build their house set back from the cliff (good plan!)

Turn Over Day GS Illum School Project

The full story in pictures is on slide share:
http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/gs-illum-school-project-presentation

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012,  was the turnover day for the school project.  Letters were written to officially turn over the project to the Department of Education, the Head Mistress of the school and the Parent Teacher Association.  Oussematou was careful to document each and every item and make all aware.  We were very aware of the concern about the community involvement in the project.  Their attitude was, because of the corruption in the country (for example, most often the first 30% of a government project is taken for government officials) that IDF and Mr. Tafrie were being paid for labour by Rotary and that they were not being paid.   Not true!   Oussematou had a plan.

We arrived at the school to the hillside entrance being lined with children chanting Canada and waving flags of the Cameroon.  A flag of the Cameroon was hung on a bamboo pole.  An organized group of children greeted us at the top of the hill.  We were introduced to the representative of the Chief Delegate and the Inspector of Schools.  We were ushered through a door with banana trees planted in a pail on each side of the door into a room set up with the new furniture along one side of the room, the bags for each child lined up under the blackboard, ledger books for teachers, a box of white chalk and a box of colored chalk for each teacher, all purchased from Rotary Club of Truro money.  The blackboard was decorated with balloons and welcome messages.  A group of at least fifty parents were seated on the children’s benches.  The teachers were dressed in matching dresses.  Students teachers with their supervisor wore yellow lab coats.  The children could not be part of the turnover ceremony.

The Headmistress welcomed all. The Representative of the Chief Delegate, a former teacher, gave a welcoming and congratulatory address.   A group of about 25 students entered and sang a delightful animated song:  Mummy Lydia, We Thank You. 

The Headmistress called upon Oussematou to speak.  Oussematou spoke in Pigeon but the message was loud and clear to the parents.  ‘You did not help when you were needed.  Are you going to pick up this project now and be a responsible community?  Are you going to keep a watchful eye?  Are you going to help when needed?  Are you going to support your teachers and your children to make this a great school?  What is your response?’  The President of the Parent Teacher Association rose to his feet.  He apologized and said very vehemently that they would stand behind the school and support the school in every way possible.  He continued to apologize for the rest of the morning. 

Another groups of children sang.  This time accompanied by drums.  The voices, the harmony, the quality was unsurpassed. 

When they called Lydia to the front, she put the Rotary Club of Truro banner on and explained that our club of 62 members was behind this project and that for the construction phase, the Hand Up group of Rotary Clubs helped.  Lydia did not give specific numbers but here is the breakdown: 

                Project to Rebuild Two Classrooms GS Illum:   Rotary Club of Truro $2000,  Canadian Rotary International $1000 through Hand Up.

                Project to Equip Two Classrooms GS Illum:    Rotary Club of Truro $1000, District Simplified Grant $1000  

Wearing the Rotary Club of Truro banner, Lydia went on to explain that Rotary provides funds for construction materials but does not provide funds for labour.  That must be supplied by the community.    She congratulated GS Illum on being such a great school (the parents clapped and cheered).  As Lydia spoke, Oussematou translated into Pigeon. 

Lydia then read each letter of presentation from the Rotary Club of Truro addressed to the Ministry of Education for the rebuilding project first, then the equipping of the classrooms.  The representative accepted each letter. 

The Sorflaten’s presented 40 books that they had brought from Canada.  Three were newly purchased written about Africa for small children.  One book about Baseball was accompanied by two baseballs and two baseball bats along with instruction how to lay out their field for a baseball diamond.  Two buckets of cubes from Marian Ward to be used for teaching Math were presented.  Each cube is one gram in weight and one centimeter in length.  Marian, a retired librarian, wrote a simple book about herself for the children.  Lydia read and showed this book telling them that the idea is for each child to write their own book.  A set of laminated maps were presented (Cameroon, Africa, World) along with rulers, etc.   All these things we take for granted but in a school that had nothing, these will be so appreciated and well used.  A Kobo reader was donated and presented as well.  This reader has 99 novels on it. Teachers will be able to read classic chapter books to their classes.  Lydia noted Anne of Green Gables was a special book for her as a child and this book is on the Kobo.  They will have to take the Kobo to the IDF office in Wum to have it charged.

Another letter was read.  Gail Kolach, Allan’s sister gave money some of which will be used to finish the ceiling and paint inside and outside.  The parents will be painting! 

The representative of the Ministry of Education responded.  He said he was most surprised by all of this.  The Head Mistress gave a lovely response and presented many letters of thanks from the children. 

An experience of a lifetime.  The model has been set.  It can be reapplied to another community, another school.    As we drive past school after school, one can see and know what the situation is.  Some have no benches.  Most have NO textbooks.  Many children have no pencil or notebook.  Some teachers have a blackboard. 

Matter of fact, we went from this incredible event to another school which is one we feel would be a good next project for our club.  This school has 200 students.  The community is strong.  It is actually Joseph Tafrie’s community.  Would you believe that, when we arrived school had dismissed.  The teachers called the children back and when they saw us, they ran up the hill and took their seats enthusiastically!   The building for the youngest children again is two classrooms if you want to call them that.  Dirt floor, one teacher has a table, one teacher only a chair.    There are benches but just benches-no place for a child to put their scribbler.  Lighting is terrible. The community has chosen a site for building from scratch a two room school for these two classes.  It is a Presbyterian School.  One child was using a small piece of board to write on. 

Here is the link to take you to this proposed next project:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdoV760SIR8

To hear Allan's reaction to the school project:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MRwd6rG3I4

IDF Shows Its Appreciation With Open Hearts

IDF Shows Its Appreciation With Open Hearts

We arrived at the IDF office, ready to travel to Bana for the closing.  To our surprise, IDF had Golf Shirts especially made with CESO, the Rotary Club of Truro, IDF and ‘A Rewarding, Valorising and Sustaining Partnership, CESO-IDF on the back.  They remembered everyone, CESO, Rotary Club of Truro, Marian, and our family with each golf shirt placed in a bag made in the Cameroon.  What a lovely surprise.  As well, Oussematou had invited a lady who makes jewellery to have a display at the office.  Lydia chose several necklaces to take back to Canada.  Oussematou plans to have workshops where this lady will train women to make beads from paper and teach them to crochet coverings for wooden beads. 

Terence again travelled separately.  We stopped at Winsoft in Bafoussam.  Paul Yemele, Winsoft owner, teacher and member of the Rotary Club of Bafoussam was still at school.  His cell phone was turned off.  Lydia was able to transfer pictures of the renovations at GS Illum and the opening of the school direct to the Winsoft computer.Yemele called later to thank us and to inquire about the possibility of a Farm Field School/Nutrition program for Bafoussam area.  The two Bafoussam ladies from Dchang that attended the FFS/Nutition workshops in Bana (at our invitation) were very excited about the program and want  the workshops to be held in  their area(s) as well.

After the stop in Bafoussam, on we travelled to Bana.  This time, rather than at the Calypso in nearby Bafang, we stayed at the Bana Hotel (CEHOTOBA) (where we stayed last year) and where the final closing and our send-off was held on Saturday.  Right away, Oussematou was off to organize things for the following day. Once again, she is leading by example to encourage a community (her own home village in fact) to care for those in need. Psycho-social engineering is what she likes to call it.

Remember, there are no social safety nets whatsoever in this country (For those who do not have paid job and those who have not been ensure in the social insurance. Some community insurance are going on in some town now and are stii very weak) IDF works with the Psycho-Social needs of the community. One of the purposes of the program on this day was to attempt to prod the conscience of the community through those attending, to demonstrate care for those in their midst who are especially in need.  Three special  guests had been invited to the closing:  a 66 year old diabetic man (former catechist Mr Louis  who is terminally ill, becoming blind man in his 90’s Mr Weladji Jean  deaf, diabetic and hypertensive also, no child and living alone who often goes several days without food and a single woman Odette Nansi who is the mother of seven children and is terribly stigmatized by the community, her family including her parents . The woman (Odette) arrived. She was rather shabbily dressed but Oussematou was prepared and had a new dress created for her.  A nutrition workshop participant Mrs Ngassa helped Odette get dressed. These three people each were presented with 25 kg of rice, five large bars of soap, a tooth brush and tooth paste, boxes of matches to light fire and lamp and other essentials.  Each was brought to the front and introduced.  The 66 year old was totally devoid of any extra flesh.  His shoulders and knees were protruding bones.  There were many round bumps on his arms and legs.  His ribs and collar bone protruded under his shirt.  He literally cried from diabetic nerve pain.  Later Allan gave Oussematou Ibuprofen (from the drug store at home) and this was to be divided up between the two men.  The 94 year old is becoming blind and had to be led to the front.  After Oussematou’s very persuasive appeal, including her own brand of scolding and gentle admonishment, all sat down to an excellent feast prepared by the hotel kitchen staff.  Each of them brought back home a packet of food enough for two dinners. She told us later that she had talked with the hotel management who agreed to regularly deliver food (leftovers presumably) from the kitchen to the one individual (the oldest man) who lives right in back of the hotel and goes for days at a time without eating. 

 

 

The mother of seven children, Odette, was extremely withdrawn and  would not look up.  Oussematou will work with her over the next year and get her involved in the farm project.  Oussematou feels that she will develop self esteem and grow to be proud of herself.  So important for her to feel good about herself so she can help her seven children grow to be effective members of society.  Oussematou is also giving Odette a role, volunteering at first, to regularly visit the two men and help them as a community volunteer.

We told Oussematou about our Food Bank, how large quantities are divided into small portions and given out over a period of time.   

A lady travelled 12 hours to come to the closing.  Again, Oussematou had a motive, to make the community more aware of HIV AIDS, to encourage each and every person to be tested and know their status and take action if positive and be preventative regardless.  This woman Shey is from the community of Kumbo.  She got tested and found herself positive.  As a responsible individual, she moved ahead to encourage her family, her friends and relatives to get tested.  At that time, like the community of Bana now, her community was not aware, was not promoting testing for HIV AIDS and not encouraging the use of anti retro viral drugs.  This person has moved the community of Kumbo forward to test, treat, prevent and reduce stigmatization.   This is the reason she travelled 24 hours (here and back) on rough roads-to help mobilize Bana to action, reduce stigmatization, test and treat when necessary.

As well as being HIV positive, she is diabetic and hypertensive.  She attended Lydia’s seminar on Nutrition in Bamenda and found the day very helpful.  She takes medication for HIV but must cope with diabetes and hypertension with diet only.  She found the dietary discussion for each helpful:  avoid salt, do not eat fufu dipped in salt and palm oil.  Rather, emphasize the Protective and Body Builders.  She wears dark glasses to help her eyes. 

It was great to see the participants of the FFS and the Nutrition Workshop.  The three government department people (The sub delegates of Agriculture of Bana and Bafang respectively Philippe Mouandjo and Jean Wouapi, the surveillant General of the Bana Hospital  and the Pastor of the Baptist Church of Bana Pastor Moses  Jab (what they call sub-delegates) attended from the Ministries of Agriculture and Health. 

Again, IDF surprised Allan and Lydia by taking them to another room and dressing them in the full costume of the Chief and (one) of his Wives.  The garments are all hand embroidered, very colorful with matching four cornered hat and headdress and complete with traditional hand painted pottery beads, artistically strung by Oussematou.   

 

They presented Allan and Lydia with two yam tubers and  a cassava tuber from the women of Wum.  The women carried a big bag of raw yam cassava to Bamenda for Allan and Lydia to take to Canada????  Ground nuts, about 15 pounds from GS Illum school, kola nut from Kumbo (a sign of respect). Also, a lovely wall hanging, three meters of wax dyed fabric from the Baptist group, (a cow horn drinking container,  a gift from IDF, a rattle  along with an incredible song especially prepared for the event by the Baptist Church participants. 

This was all followed by a feast for all:  chicken, fish, pork, yam, cassava, huckleberry, jama-jama, plantain, , Irish potatoes, rice and watermelon.  We had a ‘family’ picture taken, then one with the leaders and special guests.

             

With warm full hearts, we bid farewell.  What wonderful people.  What a great approach IDF has to community development! 

Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Microcredit Women (Promoters)

Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Microcredit Women (Promoters)

IDF’s web site (http://idfbamenda.wordpress.com/ourwork/) has a wealth of history of its involvement in  building programs in Wum area to help Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and women with living with HIV AIDS.   The web site has great detail.  These two sections are particularly relevant to our visits in Wum.

Community Health (HIV/AIDS)

IDF has been active for over a decade working towards improving the quality of life of those living with HIV/AIDS, reducing the stigma associated with the disease, and sensitizing the population about positive living and preventative measures. IDF was among the first organizations in Cameroon to develop a program focused on providing home-based care to people living with HIV and AIDS through home visits and using community volunteers. Through its community health programs, IDF has supported more than 1500 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC)  at various education levels; provided support and training to infected women through a partnership with savings and loans cooperatives and the International Labor Organization; and provided HIV and AIDS education campaigns in over 36 communities, 89 villages and 60 secondary schools.

Women empowerment

After becoming aware than many young girls wanted to become house girls and secretaries but did not have the means to obtain formal training in these areas, IDF developed a vocational training program for single adolescent mothers. IDF has trained 47 women to date providing them with skills for healthy living along with vocation training. IDF has also worked in the area of women’s empowerment through capacity building of saving and loans cooperatives and providing women living with HIV/AIDS with business knowledge in partnership with the International Labor Organization.

So, November 2011 we visited several orphans who are now apprentices and a number of women who have small businesses through the microcredit program set up by IDF.  It was very rewarding to be able to visit each of these individuals again to see how their lives had changed.  Each was invited to come to the IDF office later that day to pick up a package, gift of the Sorflatens!  How better to share our Christmas than to give where the need is greatest.  Each package contained three large bars of soap, a package containing several small boxed of matches, a roll of toilet paper (luxury!), and a bag of rice (another luxury).  It was amazing to see how appreciative of this parcel each was but that is getting ahead of my story!

Early morning, we could hear Henry and staff preparing the packages. 

The Store Keeper.  Last year our visit found her doing well and operating her store successfully.  Last year’s visit:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTAeWA2fuwc

This year we were shocked to find her recovering from a long illness.  She said ‘black lung’.  She did go to the doctor and had one round of pills.  People living with HIV AIDS must take their antiretroviral drugs daily and eat well, otherwise they get very sick very quickly.   Her store was empty, her spirit low but she is determined to restock her store.

  She came later for her parcel with her daughter.  It is good to see her smiling!

Evodia:  Farmer, Jewelery Maker, Village Guide

Last year, when we visited Evodia, she was so proud of her pigs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR1MH8Qf_xw

Unfortunately, her pigs died of African Swine Flu.  Mother Oussematou, as Evodia calls her, has been Evodia’s guardian angel.  Evodia got very sick when her pigs died and had to go to hospital.  Evodia has been doing some farming but recently her crops were run over by free wandering livestock.  Life is sure rough!  But, Evodia was an excellent guide for our day of walking visits around the market and village in Wum. Here we are going up the hill to Evodia's village.

Walking to the Village (Wum)
 

 

African Swine Flu Killed The Pigs

Evodia hopes before long that she will be able to again have pigs.

 

Olga:  Pig Farmer

We had a delightful visit with Olga, another pig farmer in the village.  Her story is a little different.  Not all of her pigs died with the African Swine Flu.  Olga ingeniously makes a soup for her pigs each day by collecting fish water she calls it from the local fish seller, mixing it with banana skins, vegetable peelings, soya beans to make a very nutritious soup. 

 

 

Visit Olga on utube.  What a delightful person living a full and healthy life now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cit1psg7JM

 

 

Olga receiving her package from Amhad, an IDF worker in Wum



 

Visiting Microcredit Promoters at the Market in Wum

Storekeeper at the Market in Wum

 

This store keeper has a great sense of humour!

Visiting Apprentices in Training in Wum:
(OVC)  Orphans and Vunerable Children)

One sad part of this story is that the government set this program up five years ago.  The government abandoned the program but IDF continues to visit each orphan and do what it can for them.

Mechanic Apprentice:

 

He has been in the apprenticeship program training to be a mechanic for five years.

Hairdresser Apprentices:

 

Seamstress Apprentice:

She has been an apprentice for five years and is taking night school

 

Store Front Seamstress Apprentice
 

 

 









Henry recording the visit for IDF records.

Visit the Apprentice Seamstress at her shop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waUKRgRDPEA

 



 





Harry, the shoemaker, receiving his Nutrition Manual at the IDF Office in Wum
 

An opportunity arose to give money to purchase orthopedic shoes for this child.

 

What a fulfilling day in Wum!

 

The Sorflatens'



Wum: Farm Field School in Conservation Farming Field Day in Befang

The Morning Star Hotel, Wum

Rated one star, maybe.  We knew enough from our experience at the Morning Star last year to buy a foam to put under what was a foam mattress in its younger years.  (Allan said last year, don’t ask me to move, I have these slats lined up with my bones!)  We brought our electric kettle and took it to the desk in the am.  The entrance immediately blew!  The hotel person agreed to heat the water in the kitchen.  Although they were able to restore the electricity right away, the main source of electricity for the village of Wum failed to give us power for most of the three days we were there.  That meant no water.  Oh well, the pail works for flushing the waterless toilet (dry tank at the best of times!)  We are both looking forward to the luxury of a toilet seat!  We knew there was no meal service and ate well from our food box.  The bread molded over night but we had crackers, soya milk, juice and our ever reliable canned  tuna fish.   So, after a good night’s sleep, we were eager to move forward with our three activity filled days.

On our way to the Green Valley Farm in Befang, Menchum Valley, we stopped at the school to deliver the sign but it wasn't as easy as that. First we had to figure out how to transport the sign. We decided that buying a foam to put on top of the car was the right way to go. 

 

When we arrived at the school, no words were needed when Lydia met the Head Mistress. 

 

 

 

Farm Field School in Conservation Farming/Nutrition/Field Day in Befang.

Arriving at Joseph Tafrie's home, we found he had built an awning out from his platform to protect Farm Field School participants from the hot sun.  Farmers had already begun gathering. 

 

 

Mr. Tafrie opened the workshop by saying that they were there to learn new ways.

 

Terance, one of the IDF staff,  introduced the workshop using the home made for us bamboo rack to hang the flip chart guidelines from.

 

  Allan used his series of large diagrams to show the basic concepts. Oussematou translated from English to their native dialect.   

Discussion was animated. One topic that was widely discussed was contour farming.  Through the discussion that arose from Allan saying ' I don't see rows going across the hill, rather, going down the hill.'  Tafrie asked farmers 'Why do you do it this way?'  The answer seemed to be that when the heavy rains come, they wash the soil to the bottom not disturbing the row!

Conservation farming offers ideas to conserve soil, well explained by Allan using his diagrams to graphically illustrate concepts new to these farmers.  Mr Tafrie said that crucial to the area is that the  land on the flat (Mecham Valley floor)  is all taken up.  Hillside farming would expand available farm land.  So, contor farming is important to the development of this critical resource.

Last year, we walked into the Mechum Valley Rice Farming area.  This video shows the valley floor well used as Mr Tafrie guides us on the tour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkLHeQNyQzA

Menchum Green Valley Rice Growers Cooperative Farm Tour

 

Practical Field Plot:

From here we moved to the practical field demonstration.   A test plot had been designated for the Farm Field School to use.  Participants quickly went about slashing brush with their cutlasses and piling it for use as mulch, leaving the soil undisturbed (zero tillage).  (The usual practice would have been to thoroughly dig up the soil and make rows.)   Farmers are interested to see how much easier this would be.  Allan produced his twine to measure out planting distance.   He asked the participants to  mark the twine using bottle caps clamped on the twine at 1 meter intervals.  That all sounds simple until you introduce a tape measure and attempt to find one meter! 

Lining up the rows with twine marked with bottle caps one meter apart.

 

Marking for digging holes.

Preparing cassava for planting right side up!



Girls, that looks like a big hole!  They are ready to add manure-see the scoop?

A wheelbarrow of goat manure is so valuable!

Mixing goat manure with soil.

 

Planting the cassava cutting upright, right side up.

 

 

Watering because it is the beginning of dry season.

 

One row of cassava is planted horizontal (the traditional way)
The second row, the cassava cuttings are planted upright (a new way)

 

 

Soil Testing. 
The group decided where soil of different types could be found.  The soil in this area is very fertile and they were challenged to determine where to find sandy soil.  The three samples were mixed with water and allowed to sit on a stump to settle for one hour. 

Waiting for soil samples to settle.

This workshop was different in a number of ways.  After the introduction to Conservation Farming Workshop last year, farmers led by Mr. Tafrie, have begun a large test plot to grow hot peppers.  We proceeded to the hillside plot where the hot pepper project is underway.  The hillside is quite steep.  They cleared the land, zero tillage.  The Sorflatens donated a water hose, a barrel and watering cans.  This project is aiming for a good market time for hot peppers because it is out of season (dry season) so the plants will have to be watered.

The hill is steeper than it looks.

 

Contouring walls will be built using rocks.
 

Small Hot Pepper Plant Grown in Nursery Planted on Hillside

Have a look at the utube to see the workshop in action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lMNq9Pu7Ng

Befang Green Valley Farmers, Cameroon, Africa through Farm Field School Training in Conservation Farming plant Hot Peppers splitting the hillside to see if new ideas of coutour farming will retain soil better and produce a good crop.  Canadian Executive Service Organization volunteer advisor Allan Sorflaten conducts the Farm Field School, Joseph Tafrie leads the farm group in the hot pepper project.  Integrated Development Foundation under the direction of Mme. Oussematou coordinates the workshop to assist farmers to learn new methods.